Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Book Release: Violet Midnight by Lynn Rush (author giveaway!)

Welcome to The Wormhole.
Today is Violet Midnight Release Day!
New Adult Paranormal Romance by Lynn Rush.
Click HERE to go to the rest of the launch day party!
They’ll be having a huge party on Facebook 7-9pm EDT. Tons of prizes. 
Lots of authors participating. It’s going to be great.

Let the Hunt begin…Blending in with her college co-eds proves difficult for vampire Hunter, Emma Martin, considering the mystical tattoo on her wrist glows whenever Vamps are near. And after three months of silence, the glow is back with a vengeance.Jake Cunningham witnesses Emma, a violet-eyed beauty, using unimaginable powers to fight off a fanged creature. Finally, after two years of searching, he may have found out what he’s become—a Hunter, like Emma.Thankful for an ally in the fight against the Vamps, Emma finds hope and comfort in Jake’s arms. As she learns more about her new love’s family and its dark heritage, she may be forced not only to hunt them but to sacrifice her life to save Jake’s soul.

 Buy Links: Amazon: Barnes and Noble
You can win here:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Monday, October 15, 2012

Blog Tour: Hex and the Single Witch by Roxanne Rhoads (Giveaways too!)


This virtual book tour is presented by Bewitching Book Tours.
Click HERE to see the tour schedule.
Welcome to The Wormhole and my day on the tour.
It is my pleasure to feature Roxanne Rhoads and
Hex and the Single Witch.


Roxanne has stopped in for an interview:
? When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

I think I was born with a pen in my hand.
Seriously writing has been a part of me for as long as I can remember. I started with poetry, essays and journalism. My first published piece was a poem when I was 11. I won numerous essay contests throughout middle and high school.  I also wrote for school and local publications throughout my middle and high school years and into college. My poetry and articles have been published in local and nationwide publications.
I started writing fiction in 2005. Since then my short stories and novellas have appeared in several anthologies, many eBooks, and on websites. Hex and the Single Witch is my first full length novel.

? How many jobs did you have before you became a writer?

Well over the years I’ve had a lot of jobs to make ends meet. Avon Lady, Grocery Bagger, Sales Clerk, Secretary…but I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit so I have owned and operated a couple small businesses. My current one is Bewitching Book Tours.

? How long does it take you to write a book?

That depends on the book and whether or not I have deadlines. If I have specific deadlines I can write faster. I completed an 80,000 word non-fiction book in 4 months when I had deadlines. Hex and the Single Witch took over 5 years to complete, one because I had no deadlines, two it’s fiction which is much harder for me to write than non-fiction, and three because it was on the backburner with a lot of other projects that did have deadlines coming first.

? Where do you write and how do you write ~ on paper, typewriter or computer?

Mostly I write in my little corner space “office” on my computer. My office looks into my backyard which is a wooded area. I see assorted wildlife all day long- birds, squirrels…it’s a nice place to write.

I do carry a notebook everywhere with me to jot down ideas if they happen to pop up.

? Where do you get your ideas or inspiration for your characters?

Everywhere. Inspiration can strike at any time and come from anywhere.

The original background for Hex came to me while I was driving through downtown Flint one day. After leaving the main strip of Saginaw Street that is the “downtown” area, many places look like ghost towns. Businesses are boarded up, empty, and falling apart. Houses are even worse off. There are entire neighborhoods in and around Flint that are completely or almost completely empty. Out of fifty houses two may still have residents. That’s scary on so many different levels.

Suddenly an idea popped into my head- “what if, after all the humans left, Others started moving in?”

And the basic back story to my series came to life. Flint, Michigan becomes a hotbed of supernatural activity. Ghosts, ghouls, vampires, demons and were-creatures move in making the human population the minority.


? Where does a book start for you ~ characters, plot, ending?

It depends on the book. Sometimes it starts with a scene; sometimes characters “speaking” to me, sometimes it can be just an idea that I have to flesh out into a story.


? What are you reading right now?

Nothing though I have a stack waiting me. A huge stack. The top three are Grave Memory by Kalayna Price, Once Burned by Jeaniene Frost, and Tempest’s Fury by Nicole Peeler.

? What do you like to do when you are not writing?

When not writing or working my family comes first. I spend time with my family- movie and game nights; sometimes we go to the YMCA and go swimming. There’s always something to do. Plus we have a lot of family traditions especially for holidays- our Halloween tradition is having a big pumpkin carving night. We all pick a pumpkin or two (we grow our own) and have fun decorating and carving them.

? What is your favorite comfort food?

My husband makes the best hashbrowns which is what I crave for comfort. And his gourmet grilled cheese goes great with tomato soup.


? Are you a “plotter” or a “pantser”?

Pantser. When I plot the characters laugh at me and decide to do their own thing anyway and the story always veers off into a totally different direction. So I just write and follow the lead of the characters or story. Occasionally I will plot major things so I make sure everything ties in and fits.

Fun random questions: 
·        dogs or cats? cats
·        Coffee or tea? coffee
·        Dark or milk chocolate? dark
·        Rocks or flowers? Depends on my mood I love both, I used to be a floral designer but I also have one heck of a rock collection LOL
·        Night or day? night
·        Favorite color? red
·        Crayons or markers? markers
·        Pens or pencils? pens



More about the author:

About the Author:
Story strumpet, tome loving tart, eccentric night owl...these words describe book publicist and erotic romance author Roxanne Rhoads.
When not fulfilling one the many roles being a wife and mother of three require, Roxanne's world revolves around words...reading them, writing them, editing them, and talking about them. In addition to writing her own stories she loves to read, promote and review what others write.
Roxanne is the owner of Bewitching Book Tours and operates Fang-tastic Books, a book blog dedicated to paranormal and urban fantasy books.
When not reading, writing, or promoting Roxanne loves to hang out with her family, craft, garden and search for unique vintage finds.
Visit her online
Bewitching Book Tours www.bewitchingbooktours.blogspot.com,
Facebook
Twitter @RoxanneRhoads
Roxanne can also be found on Linked InGoodreads and Google+



And now....the book:

Hex and the Single Witch
Vehicle City Vampires Book One
By Roxanne Rhoads

Publisher: Bewitching Books
Genre: Paranormal Romance / Urban Fantasy
Word Count: 83,000

Anwyn Rose is descended from a long line of powerful witches yet she can barely cast spells young witchlings have mastered. She has one functioning witch gift, the power of knowing, which she puts to good use as a Detective on Flint’s Preternatural Investigation Team.
It’s a new era in Vehicle City, supernaturals are running the town.
The P.I.T has their hands full with paranormal crimes. Top priority is a serial killer, who appears to be a vampire, draining young women in the city.
Anwyn is on the case with her sexy partner Detective Mike Malone. Complicating things is her relationship Galen, a vampire who looks more guilty than innocent, although Anwyn trusts her instincts even if her power is on the fritz.
Mysterious spells, compromising situations, and a possible demon on the loose make it hard to focus on the case, but Anwyn has to make things right before the human police execute the wrong vampire.
Hex and the Single Witch contains magick, a little bit of mystery, a lot of supernatural mayhem, and a sexy love triangle that will leave you wanting more.


Tour Wide Giveaways

Prize Pack 1: A Fang-tastic Tote Bag, glow in the dark gloves, a Bewitching Charm bracelet (made by BookSwag Shop),  , Bewitching Broom pen, mini witch hat notebook and various book swag from Bewitching authors. Open to US Shipping Only

Prize Pack 2: Bewitching Charm bookmark (made by BookSwag Shop), Bewitching Broom pen, mini witch hat notebook and various book swag from Bewitching authors. Open to US Shipping Only

Prize Pack 3: Bewitching necklace (made by paragraphic), Bewitching Broom pen, mini witch hat notebook and various book swag from Bewitching authors. Open to US Shipping Only

Prize 4: $10 Amazon Gift Card delivered digitally. Open internationally

Prize 5 (with 5 winners): 5 ecopies of Hex and the Single Witch. Open internationally

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Saturday, October 13, 2012

Blog Tour: Run the Risk by Lori Foster (Giveaway too!)

 This blog tour is presented by Meryl Moss Media Relations - Book Trib
Click HERE to see the tour schedule on the tour website!
Welcome to The Wormhole and my day on the tour.
It is my pleasure to feature Lori Foster and Run the Risk.
Lori Foster Q and A:
1.      If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?
Nope. I rarely look back. There are too many characters jammed into my brain, demanding attention from my Muse. If I don’t continually look forward, working hard to give each character his own story, then my brain would explode and I’d never get any sleep. LOL. As it is, they do their best to keep me awake all night, trying to tell me their stories before I’m ready to hear them. 
2.      Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?
I was home sick, in bed, too miserable even to get up and watch TV, and my sister, Monica, brought me over a paper bag full of romances. Out of curiosity I flipped through a historical, found a scene where the heroine was miscarrying on the side of the road and the hero had to help her. It was powerful. And intriguing. From there I looked for a love scene (so predictable, I know, but I *had* to see those two together) and I got so enthralled that I had to go back to the beginning to figure out how the characters had gotten to that point. I’ve been a reader ever since! 
3.      Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?
Endings! Ohmigosh, finding that right last line, the one that wraps it up, feels final, and sort of says, Ta-da dum. I angst over the last line more than any other part of the book. If only we could say, “They lived happily ever after.” LOL Beginnings are always the easiest for me, the endings always the hardest. 
4.      Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it?
I learned all sorts of police procedural stuff. Not saying I got it all accurate in the story because, you know, we have to make it work. But I did research it. Luckily a few police officers, a retired officer, and the daughter of an officer, all made themselves accessible. It was nice! Nothing beats actually talking to someone who is in the know. Much better than just reading someone online.

Now for the book!
Amazon Product Description:
When Detective Logan Riske goes undercover to find Pepper Yates, a potential link to his best friend's unsolved murder, he vows to gain her cooperation by any means necessary. But the elusive beauty is more suspicious—and in far more danger—than he expected. And the last thing Logan needs is to start caring for her….

Pepper has spent years dodging the corrupt club owner who will stop at nothing to keep her silenced. She can trust no one, not even the handsome new "construction worker" who's moved in next door. The heat between them is undeniable. But will surrendering to passion bring her the safety she so desires—or will her feelings for Logan draw them both into a killer's crosshairs?

A short excerpt to get you going:
“Really, Mr. Stark, I don’t need any help.”
His grin widened. Teasing. Flirting. “You are so prickly.”
How could he make that sound like a compliment? 
“I am not—”                
He snatched her keys from her, too, and short of grabbing for them, which would only make her look foolish, she had no choice but to follow him.                
“—prickly,” she muttered—probably in a really prickly way. 

My Thoughts:
     Fantastic read!  I loved the characters.  The characters have been carefully created with intricate personality traits and characteristics that make them seem so real that I found myself instantly attached emotionally.  Even the "bad" guys are so well made that they too got instant reactions.  Pepper and Logan are great, but Rowdy is probably my favorite.  His dedication to Pepper and his willingness to sacrifice to keep her safe.  Which is ironic when you think about the fact that Logan is willing to use her to find Rowdy.  I enjoyed the unfolding romance that finds both Logan and Pepper.
     The story is well written and the pages almost turn themselves.  The author cleverly uses people's perceptions to add both depth and some misdirection to the plot; a plot that is original, intriguing and nicely played out.  Lori Foster is a storyteller at heart.
     The conclusion left me satisfied and wanting more at the same time.  I can't wait for more books - I hope the next one is Rowdy's story!

In Case this isn't already enough.....A Giveaway!

Friday, October 12, 2012

Blog Tour: Hellfire and Damnation II by Connie Corcoran Wilson

This virtual book tour is presented by Teddy Rose at Virtual Author Book Tours.
Click HERE to see the tour schedule.
Welcome to The Wormhole and my day on the tour.
It is my pleasure to feature:
Connie Corcoran Wilson and Hellfire and Damnation II.
About Connie Corcoran Wilson:
Connie (Corcoran) Wilson (MS + 30) graduated from the University of Iowa and Western Illinois University, with additional study at Northern Illinois, the University of California at Berkeley and the University of Chicago. She taught writing at six Iowa/Illinois colleges and has written for five newspapers and seven blogs, including Associated Content (now owned by Yahoo) which named her its 2008 Content Producer of the Year . She is an active, voting member of HWA (Horror Writers Association).
Her stories and interviews with writers like David Morrell, Joe Hill, Kurt Vonnegut, Frederik Pohl and Anne Perry have appeared online and in numerous journals. Her work has won prizes from “Whim’s Place Flash Fiction,” “Writer’s Digest” (Screenplay) and she will have 12 books out by the end of the year. Connie reviewed film and books for the Quad City Times (Davenport, Iowa) for 12 years and wrote humor columns and conducted interviews for the (Moline, Illinois) Daily Dispatch and now blogs for 7 blogs, including television reviews and political reporting for Yahoo.
Connie lives in East Moline, Illinois with husband Craig and cat Lucy, and in Chicago, Illinois, where her son, Scott and daughter-in-law Jessica and their three-year-old twins Elise and Ava reside. Her daughter, Stacey, recently graduated from Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee, as a Music Business graduate and is currently living and working in Australia.
Description of Hellfire & Damnation II:
Publisher: Merry Blacksmith Press, August 1, 2012 Category: Short Stories, Psychological Thriller
Tour Dates: October, 2012 Available in: Print, Kindle, Epub & PDF, 168 pages
Cover Art by Vincent Chong.
Hellfire & Damnation II is the sequel to the well-received  award-winning short story collection Hellfire& Damnation(www.HellfireAndDamnationTheBook.com) (E-Lit award, Silver Feather award). The first collection contained 15 short stories that described the sins punished at each of the 9 Circles of Hell within Dante’s Inferno. With that framing device and an Introduction by William F. Nolan (Logan’s Run), the 2011 visit to Hell was 47,000 words that critics called “blazingly original.”
The sequel, Hellfire & Damnation II, is slightly longer, at 53,000 words, containing 11 short stories that, once again, address the sins punished at each of the 9 Circles of Hell. Plus, this time, there is an illustration for each story and a From the Author section, which describes the inspiration for each story. [There are no recurring characters, however, so no need to have read the first book in order to plunge into the second.]

My thoughts:
     To begin this short piece on my thoughts of the book Hellfire and Danmantion II, I just have to state that I have never before been so effected by the introduction in a book.  I was struck by the very first phrase and by the time I had finished reading the intro, there was absolutely NO way that I would not read this book.  I actually went on-line and bought a copy of book one as I had not read that yet.  The introduction was so well written that I just knew the book would be even better.
     I was not disappointed.  This collection of short stories is fabulous.  The writing is wonderful; the word selection, the pacing, the structure, everything just works.  Her writing draws you in emotionally and you feel as if you are a part of it all.  The characters are first rate, in all of the stories.  She mixes humor with the horror in just the right doses.  

Click HERE to buy a copy of Hellfire and Damnation II 

Click HERE to buy a copy of Hellfire and Damnation (book one)
Click HERE to go to the website for book one.

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Blogfest Winner! (Finally!)


After much waiting.....here is the winner of The Blogfest 2012!

Leanne G!

She has selected Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi


***Your book has been ordered and is on it's way to you!***


Blog Tour: Primal by D.A. Serra (Giveaway too!)

Welcome to The Wormhole and my day on the tour.
It is my pleasure to feature D.A. Serra and Primal.
I hope you enjoy the interview!

When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

I always wrote:  as a little girl I wrote limericks and long-winded birthday cards, as a teenaged girl I wrote morose romantic heartbreak poetry (of course), and as an adult I moved toward more complicated prose.  So, while writing has always been a natural part of my life, it took me a long time to see it as a possible career; consequently, there was no specific moment when I knew I was a writer – but there was a specific moment when I committed to making a living at it.  That was when I moved to Los Angeles from New York and started working in the television industry.  I knew that if I was going to support myself I needed to be where the work was.  So, that was how I began.


How many jobs did you have before you became a writer?

Before I committed to a career as a writer, I probably had nine or ten other jobs. I wasn’t happy at any of them. I was an exceptionally hard-worker, and I cared a great deal about doing the job perfectly, but I was too sensitive, and not political enough, for an office or retail environment. 


How long does it take you to write a book?

It is widely variable and depends mostly on how good my outline is, and how intricate my theme.  I have one book I’ve been writing on-and-off for seven years, and another I finished in six months.  Since I came from the film and TV world, and there you are forced to write in stages, I am used to having a fairly good outline.  My thriller, Primal, is a bit different, because I wrote it as a speculative screenplay first.  I had a loose outline in my mind when I began the screenplay, but I was free to move around in the plot, since it wasn’t a studio assignment.  I was delighted when it sold to James Cameron.  The film rights are now with FOX and I’m grateful to them for giving me the rights to turn it into a novel.  I loved fleshing it out and going deeper.  It went quite quickly from screenplay to novel since the script functioned as an excellent outline.


What would you say is your most interesting writing quirk?


I open my eyes and start writing.  I begin writing in the morning, before I’m even out of bed.  After a bit, I get up and dress – but I start while barely awake.  My husband hands me a cup of coffee in bed around 6:30 a.m., I roll over and open my computer.


Do you have a routine to get into the right frame of mind?

I need coffee while I write.  I don’t know why exactly.  For me, there is something very comforting about a hot frothy cup of coffee.  It makes me feel like musing.


How do you decide what to write about?

I am regularly bombarded by things I want to write, and most specifically by phrases that pop into my head.  It is a matter of culling and choosing for me.  Nine times out of ten, I will gravitate toward a character, or an interesting philosophical idea, before I will be captivated by a plot device.  And I am always writing several different projects at a time.  Currently, I’m working on a humorous non-fiction travel memoir, on another thriller with a young girl as the protagonist, and on a very serious novel exploring the idea of Free Will and the unconscious.  That one is in final editing, so I’m most excited about it.


What is the first book you remember reading by yourself?

Charlotte’s Web – I still feel my fingers gripping the pages of that book.


What is your favorite comfort food?

Spaghetti with butter & cheese – any day – all day – when sick, when well, no matter. 

What book, if any, do you read over and over again?

There are a number of books I pick up over and over:  Bel Canto by Ann Patchett, A Supposedly Fun Thing I’ll Never Do Again by David Foster Wallace, any of the hinges of history series written by Thomas Cahill.

RANDOM:
Dogs – all the way!
Coffee – see above
Dark dark dark chocolate – yum
Flowers (does someone like rocks?)
Night time is the best time – work is done and the wine is uncorked


More About the Author:  Deborah Serra was a screenwriter for twenty years and recognized by the Writer’s Guild for her long term continuous employment. She has written ten TV movies, four feature films, and numerous TV episodes including two years as a staff writer for NBC.  She worked for top producers, directors, and actors.  She has taught writing at the University of California, San Diego, Wofford College and at writers’ conferences nationwide.  Serra has now turned her attention to novels, and she was honored as a recent recipient of the prestigious Hawthornden Literary Fellowship, and as a semi-finalist for the William Faulkner-William Wisdom Creative Writing Award given by the Faulkner Society in New Orleans, LA.  ~~~ Deborah’s  Website.
Primal by D.A. Serra
What if the worst happens and you are not a cop, or a spy with weapons training and an iron heart? What if you're a schoolteacher - a mother? In this gritty crime thriller a family vacation takes a vicious turn when a fishing camp is invaded by four armed men. With nothing except her brains, her will, and the element of surprise on her side, Alison must kill or watch her family die. And then - things get worse.


This virtual book tour is presented by Teddy Rose at Virtual Author Book Tours.
Click HERE to see the tour schedule.
...and now for the Giveaway!